MALAYSIA:The temporary employment visit pass (PLKS) fee for foreign fishermen has been reduced to RM320 per person in the agricultural sector for the first six months.

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) in a statement today said this is one of the government's efforts through the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), the Home Ministry, the Immigration Department and DOF to assist local fishing vessel operators in the implementation of PLKS for foreign fishing crew members.

According to the statement, the age limit for foreign fishermen entering the country for the first time has also been set at 60 years where this exemption is given specifically to the capture fisheries sector.

"MAFS projects the number of foreign fishing crew members needed for the year 2023 (first quarter) in Peninsular Malaysia to be around 17,486. To date, the PLKS of 10,063 foreign fishermen have been approved.

"Overall, 24,549 foreign fishermen are needed in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.  Their employment approval is subject to Section 60K, Employment Act 1955," read the statement.

Foreign fishing crews are required to have the PLKS documentations on  Jan 1 last year, in accordance with the gazette on the Passport (Exemption) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2021 and the Immigration (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2021 on 28 May 2021.

In the statement the DOF said it was actively working to increase the participation of local workers to reduce the dependence on foreign workers in the capture fisheries sector through various initiatives and training programmes.

However, it said permission to employ foreign fishermen has been given to operators of fishing vessels with a load of 40 gross register tonnage (GRT) and above, especially anchovy trawlers, zone C vessels (operating more than 12 nautical miles from the coast), zone C2 vessels (more than 30 nautical miles) and zone C3 vessels (to catch tuna in the Indian Ocean).

Source: BERNAMA

SINGAPORE: Singapore deposited its instrument of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 10 February, making it the second WTO member and first coastal state to do so. Acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are needed for the Agreement to come into effect.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “Singapore's formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is an important step towards its entry into force. It adds to the diversity of economies needed for the collective effort to uphold ocean sustainability worldwide. As a stalwart supporter of the multilateral trading system and an active participant in both the fisheries subsidies negotiations and ongoing discussions on trade and environment, Singapore once again leads the way in highlighting the importance of global cooperation and ensuring the WTO is responsive to the challenges of our time.” Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, said: “The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is a significant milestone, as the first WTO agreement with an environment focus. As a firm supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system, Singapore welcomes this landmark Agreement, and has since ratified the Agreement. The Agreement disciplines harmful fisheries subsidies to prevent the depletion of fish stocks, strengthens food security, and protects the livelihoods of those who depend on marine fisheries. We encourage other WTO members to also deposit their instrument of acceptance so that we can collectively see the benefits of the Agreement coming to fruition.” Ambassador Hung Seng Tan submitted his country's instrument of acceptance to DG Okonjo-Iweala. Adopted by consensus at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world's fish stocks.  In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) and establishes a Fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations. The Agreement prohibits support for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, bans support for fishing overfished stocks, and ends subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas. Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to making recommendations by MC13 for additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement. The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here. The list of members that have submitted their acceptance of the Agreement is available here. Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

Source: https://www.wto.org/english/news/, 10 February 2023.

PHILIPPINES: Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo received newly-appointed Philippine Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Mr. Lionel Henri Valentin at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 07 February 2023. Mr. Dabbadie assumed his role at FAO on 31 January 2023.

“We consider FAO an important ally in our country’s aim to attain food security and improve nutrition,” said Secretary Manalo. He emphasized how food security is among the country’s top priorities and how it underpins all pillars of the recently launched Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

The Secretary also commended Mr. Dabbadie’s extensive background in aquaculture and fisheries, mentioning the potential of the sector in advancing the country’s food security agenda. Apart from publishing more than 50 scientific and technical publications in aquaculture, Mr. Dabbadie led the development of a program to develop guidelines for sustainable aquaculture.

“There are plenty of opportunities to highlight the Philippines’ expertise in aquaculture,” said Mr. Dabbadie, whose familiarity with the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector are drawn from his previous collaboration with the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on various research projects. His work with BFAR precede his stints as Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer of FAO in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) then FAO Philippines Country Representative.

Secretary Manalo urged Mr. Dabbadie to work closely with the rest of the United Nations Country Team as well as all relevant Philippine government agencies to make sure that FAO’s next Country Programming Framework (CPF) supports the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and complements the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The CPF is a blueprint for the development cooperation between the Philippines and FAO just as the UNSDCF guides the engagements between the country and the UN Country Team. These documents identify the specific development areas where FAO and the UN’s support are needed the most.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that focuses on food security and nutrition. The Philippines and FAO share a long history of partnership. The Philippines is a founding member of the organization and has contributed significantly towards shaping the organization’s agenda since 1945. FAO established its country office in the Philippines in 1978 and has since supported the government’s efforts to develop the agriculture sector through technical assistance, capacity building, and policy advice.

Source: https://dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/dfa-releasesupdate/31764-secretary-manalo-meets-fao-philippine-country-representative, 9 February 2023.